Battle Royal

Over the years I have composed a number of problems that use only two royal pieces, usually of different types. Mostly these are just geometrical studies of their properties.

The Q+N is a Queen + Nightrider, also known as a "Queen of the Night". The Rose is like a Nightrider but instead of moving in a straight line deviates either to right or to left at an obtuse angle. The moves of its path form an octagonal arc, and given sufficient space it can make a complete circuit in one move, returning to its starting cell.

Solution:Set: Qf4‡ Play 1. Rh8 Qf6‡ or 1. Rb2 Qd4‡

This was apparently submitted to R. Turnbull, 19 October 1997, for Theme Tourney 1 in Variant Chess

In Grid Chess, invented by W. Stead, Fairy Chess Review 1954, the board is divided by grid lines into 16 2×2 areas, and every move must cross at least one of the grid lines.

The Added Power persists for one move after the check.

Solution:

(a) 1. Kb3 2. Kc4 3. Kb4 4. Ka5 for Bc3‡ (stops Ka4)

(b) 1. Kb3 2. Kc4 3. Kc5 4. Kb6 5. Ka7 for Ra4‡ (stops Kb6)

(c) 1. Kb3 2. Kc4 3. Kb5 4. Kc6 5. Kc7 6. Kb8 for Qb6‡ (stops Kc8)

This was apparently submitted to R. Turnbull, 19 October 1997, for Theme Tourney 1 in Variant Chess